Global CO2 emissions reach an alarming 38.1 billion tons!

Global CO2 emissions reach an alarming 38.1 billion tons!

The world is in the midst of a worrying development in terms of CO2 emissions. As a report by the international research group led by Pierre Friedlingstein from the University of Exeter in the journal “Earth System Science Data” reveals, global CO2 emissions will have risen to 38.1 billion tons in 2025. This represents an increase of 0.3 billion tonnes compared to 2024, when emissions were 37.8 billion tonnes. The main culprits are fossil fuels, which have increased in all sectors, including coal, oil and natural gas.

What is particularly alarming is that CO2 emissions in the USA have increased by 1.9 percent. An increase can also be observed in India (1.4 percent) as well as in China and the EU (0.4 percent each). Friedlingstein expressed the sobering assessment that it is unrealistic to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is in stark contrast to the efforts of 35 countries that reduced emissions while growing their economies between 2015 and 2024. These countries include, among others, European countries, Australia and New Zealand. Despite this progress, global emissions reduction measures are not sufficient to achieve a sustainable reduction in global emissions.

Deforestation and climate influences

One positive aspect is the reduction in deforestation due to comprehensive environmental policies that have resulted in deforestation rates in the Amazon reaching their lowest level since 2014. Nevertheless, the devastating fires of 2024 highlight the fragility of the ecosystem in the face of unchecked global warming.

The CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is estimated at 425.7 ppm (parts per million), an increase of 423.9 ppm in 2024. In addition to emissions, the capacity of ocean and land CO2 sinks that absorb CO2 from the atmosphere is also affected. This has decreased significantly due to climate change: the absorption capacity of land ecosystems fell by 25 percent, while that of the oceans fell by 7.9 percent.

Chemical reactions and CO2

Another aspect related to CO2 is the chemical reaction of carbon dioxide with caustic soda. When CO2 reacts with Caustic soda (NaOH) Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is formed. This reaction occurs in two steps, with CO2 first reacting with water to form carbonic acid, which then reacts with hydroxide ions in a neutralization reaction.

These chemical processes are essential for understanding the interactions of CO2 in the environment. In particular, the ionic bonds and the state of the reactants are crucial for the behavior of the reactions in aqueous solution.

Economic aspects and companies

In the economic sector, Quanex Building Products Corporation is showing interesting developments. The company, which provides components for the fenestration industry, posted revenue of $1.28 billion in 2024, up 13.03 percent year-on-year. However, Quanex reported a 59.93 percent decline in profit to $33.06 million. These numbers reflect the challenges many companies face in a changing market.

Overall, the current situation illustrates how closely climate change, chemical processes and economic factors are intertwined. Efforts to reduce emissions must continue to be strengthened to ensure sustainable development.